Touring on a fixed

Hi,

I'm looking for someone to do some touring through france in July/August, spain into france...

Anyone looking to do something similar? cheers

My advice , based on my experience as a tourist , would be

If you are not using pannoers -then use a Carradice Super Camper Saddlebag. that's their biggest one
Fit a rack or use one of the Carracdice supports for the saddle bag . Don't just hang it off the saddle. You can can also strap items to the saddle bag, usually stuff like a waterproof. The

A bar bag at the front - Carradice to match- this can be used for maps, valuable etc

Might be worth using a camel back for drinks- if you don't have bottle cages.

Lights- either battery ones or a hub powered dynamo.

Mudguards, full or otherwise

If you are going to take a tent, then you will really need panniers and then perhaps a different bike.

fixed wheel nut on the forum does touring i think.....pm him?

I usually do weekend tours with my local CTC section, usually Youth Hostel and pub crawling so you only need a big saddle bag and maybe a pannier at the most, usually I leave the 67.5" [46 x 18] on but geared down to a 63" for a lumpier tour once

See Gordy's website mentioned earlier he has done a bit by bit world tour in stages on fixed;
http://www.gordontaylor.co.uk/

everything you could possibly need to know will be there.

i love this website. allways worth a read

"[SIZE=2]A common mistake that we all make as newcomers to ultralight cycling is to start with cutting the handle of a tooth brush. The prospective ultralighter, on the contrary, should start with thinking big..."[/SIZE]

http://www2.arnes.si/~ikovse/weight.htm

My advice , based on my experience as a tourist , would be

If you are not using pannoers -then use a Carradice Super Camper Saddlebag. that's their biggest one
Fit a rack or use one of the Carracdice supports for the saddle bag . Don't just hang it off the saddle. You can can also strap items to the saddle bag, usually stuff like a waterproof. The

A bar bag at the front - Carradice to match- this can be used for maps, valuable etc

Might be worth using a camel back for drinks- if you don't have bottle cages.

Lights- either battery ones or a hub powered dynamo.

Mudguards, full or otherwise

If you are going to take a tent, then you will really need panniers and then perhaps a different bike.

I thought of getting a nelson longflap. whats wrong with just hang a it to the saddle. not enough clearance for legs or does the bag swing?

Since Obama has lifted the travel barrier for westerners to Cuba i'm actually thinking of touring Cuba by bike this summer. Not even sure where to start. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

It depends on your position. Personally, I find hanging the bag from the saddle alone means the bag hits my thighs. Using one of the carrier attachments clears the bag away from your legs and stops the swinging; and of course you need a Brooks with saddle bag loops

Get the biggest bag Carradice do, which is I think still the double flap camper.

And here is the link
http://www.carradice.co.uk/

Get the Carradice SQR block, it has a quick release mech, it is brilliant so when you stop just unclip it and take the whole bag with you, plus as Peter said it keeps the bag clear of your thighs.

Since Obama has lifted the travel barrier for westerners to Cuba i'm actually thinking of touring Cuba by bike this summer. Not even sure where to start. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

As a 'westerner' I don't know what this travel barrier you're talking about is. I think you're referring to a travel ban specific to Americans. No travel ban has been placed on others.

So are you a yank? If not then what was stopping you before?

Yeah, i'm a Yank. The US has had travel/trade and cultural restrictions (called the Embargo)against Cuba since the 60's (Bay of Pigs - Cuban Missle Crisis era). The clown we had in office for the previous 8 years wouldn't have given an honest thought towards removing the Embargo. The new guy, while not perfect is nevertheless smart and analytical. So yeah, i'm thinking of touring Cuba.

Hi Junkmein

There are loads of tours available to do Cuba-though it depends on whether you want to do it fixed or not- Cuba Solidarity campaign has a fundraising trip heading out soon so this year's probably a no go-er but they do have some heavy political slant to the trip and you have to be a member -if you google search it there are holidays/fundraisers by bike through Cuba all the time - though it's not all flat so whether you want to do it fixed is up to you. Depends on how you want to set up out there ie camp/hotel/tourist accom -ie people's spare rooms.

Totally recommend Cuba but you'd have to probably not pack light ie consider temperature/weather etc.

I've just popped my long distance fixed gear cherry having returned from an 8 day, 840 mile trip from Bristol to Berlin and thought I'd pitch in with my experience.

Basically I was glad of a any planning and training that I did, had a fab time and really felt "up for it" by the time I pedalled away from my front door.

Saying that, I'm sure this isn't always necessary as "the spirit of adventure" will get you a long way. One of the guys at my local bike shop returned from study in Copenhagen on a delivery bike with his spare frame and worldly posessions and still managed to make it all the way back to Bristol OK!

Terrain,distance and accomodation dictate what sort of weight and gearing will work for you.

I knew that a multi day tour across Southern England, Holland and North Germany staying in youth hostels is fine - essentially flat or undulating and on metalled roads, first rate cycle paths or (in East Germany) some farm access roads, forestry trails and the odd cobbled road.

However, I wouldn't plan a multi day alpine tour with camping gear on a fixed unless it was simply to prove that it was possible!

I new that travelling light with a suitable bike was essential.

My bike is a Cotic RoadRat - with guards, drop bars, front v-brake, touring wheels and tyres, dynamo hub and geometry suitable for roughish roads or paths.

I opted for a smallish saddlebag (Carradice Nelson long-flap) and bar bag to constrain the amount of kit that I carried. This proved really important as I would have begrudged any excess weight.

NOTE: One important thing I discovered is that any stop-start-stop riding can be hard on your ankles with a fixed. Getting that bit of extra weight moving from a standstill can ask alot of your ankles and I suffered on a 125 mile day through central London and out through Essex to the ferry port at Harwich. Getting into the habit of easing away from a standstill rather than powering hard away proved really helpful as the days (and miles) passed by. This is one thing I would consider if thinking about a much hillier route.

Essentials only

• 2 pairs of wool socks
  
• 1 pair waterproof socks
  
• Waterproof
  
• Spare bib shorts (alternating between a 3/4 length fleecy lined and a short normal pair)
  
• One pair overshorts
  
• One set of long johns
  
• Merino l/s top
  
• Wool mix s/sleeve top
  
• Spare gloves
  
• Basic Toiletries
  
• Microfibre towel
  
• Basic tools inc long allen key for the rear wheel
  
• 2 x tubes
  
• Maps (UK maps simply printed off and discarded wehn finished)
  
• Camera
  
• Mobile
  
• ipod nano
  
• Travel documents
  
• Wallet
  

I agree with the comments about the Carradice QR carrier. I used the Carradice just with the straps supplied and it has a tendency to swing when honking out of the saddle, is a bit of a faff to undo and refit every day and noticed a bit of chaffing on the leather straps which might eventually cause them to split.

sounds great. Any pics? Bike and/or route pics.

Hi Joerg, and thanks for takingthe time to reply in my blog.

1/ I did use a carradice saddlebag (Nelson) only attached via the leather straps supplied without any support or rack. This was OK although the bag did swing about with a bit of weight in it. Also, taking the bag on and off the saddle was a slower process than I was used to.

I am thinking of getting carradice "bagman" - it'll support the bag better and allow it to be quickly released from the saddle. It'll keep the bag free of the wheel if you have no guards

2/ Fundraising - Set up a Justgiving page - it's really easy and works excellently. It's what most fundraisers seem to use. I found it excellent and you can email updates to all your sponsors from the site!

3/ Sponsors - I'd get the word quickly to friends, friends of friends, family, fellow bike riders and anyone you know socially. I found people you know are great for putting the word around!

4/ Keep in touch - Don't be afraid to pester people and above all else, find things to say to keep a bit of interest. If you're getting the miles in, going on any little adventures beforehand or doing any planning - let everyone know - writing a blog or emailing people with updates.

5/ Have lot's of fun along the way!

Just found the blog:
http://brylonscamel.blogspot.com/

im going on a tour of ireland this summer. i think im gonna do it with the carradice camper longflap saddlebag, and a front rack for my bivvy bag. i reckon i can fit all i need in the saddle bag.

its a shame the camper doesnt come in the nice barley colorway.

i really hope the big saddlebag doesnt make the bike too top heavy, thats could be an issue on wet roads.

im going on a tour of ireland this summer. i think im gonna do it with the carradice camper longflap saddlebag, and a front rack for my bivvy bag. i reckon i can fit all i need in the saddle bag.

its a shame the camper doesnt come in the nice barley colorway.

i really hope the big saddlebag doesnt make the bike too top heavy, thats could be an issue on wet roads.

I'd love to do the same this year, but I reckon I don't have the money, need to wait till next summer by the looks of things

Would love to hear about it

what do people think about using one of these instead of a saddlebag:

with one of these that attaches to the seatpost:

I don't like the idea of a saddle bag swinging about.

Those bags are smaller than the big saddle bags. I don't think the saddle bags swing if you have one of the supports, only if you don't.

what do people think about using one of these instead of a saddlebag:

with one of these that attaches to the seatpost:

I don't like the idea of a saddle bag swinging about.

get all your shit you think you might need together... and weight that shit! if its over 10kg consider a different rack.

I got one of those sons of bitches good for a few days, i carried a tent on my back.

I used that exact thingamyjig for a 5 day road tour in the alps a couple of years ago. Left our luggage in a hotel in Annecy and went for it, my mates just used small rucksacks but I had one of those. I travelled very light, maybe 4kg all in. It worked fine - marginally heavier than a rucky but cool back a bonus when when your slogging up the Col d'Iseran in the baking heat.

I just took a toothbrush, very lightweight clothes for the evenings, flip flops (32H ha ha ha), wallet phone and tools. We stayed in cheap hotels.

It was ace.

I use a carradice SQR block and it's great.

A word of warning though - you need at least 6 inches of seatpost showing to fit it. I bought one for my dad has just got his old Raleigh Europa back on the road, for use as a commuter. It wouldn't fit his exposed post (!!) and so I MAY have a spare one. (my brother may take it off my hands - if not, I'll post it up on here.)

6" of shaft needed.

6" of shaft needed.

this should be in the classified section